Should we tax ourselves for the zoo?

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a community zoo and right now it needs the community's help with a yes vote on ballot question 2A. What most people don't realize is that the zoo is a treasure for all the people of Colorado Springs. It was given to the community in 1938 by Spencer Penrose when the zoo was incorporated as a non-profit entity. A common misconception is that the City of Colorado Springs, The Broadmoor hotel, or the El Pomar Foundation have legal or financial responsibility for the zoo. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is self-supporting, generating nearly all of its revenue from admissions, program fees, memberships, donations and grants. In fact, our zoo is one of only five (out of 184) accredited zoos in the nation that does not receive regular public funding. Today our zoo is at a critical crossroads. The zoo's infrastructure and many of its animal exhibits and buildings are 40 to 50 years old and badly in need of repair. One need only visit the zoo's world-famous giraffe exhibit, or the elephants, mountain lions or Monkey Pavilion, to recognize that these facilities are aging and outdated. With broad community guidance, the zoo has developed a responsible 10-year master plan that will modernize, refurbish and preserve this Colorado Springs treasure. Specifically, the master plan will ensure:

Spacious, naturalistic new animal homes that will dramatically improve the lives of the of the zoo's 500-plus residents

Fun, hands-on educational activities for kids and families

Improved visitor amenities that emphasize convenience, comfort and ease of getting around America's only mountain zoo. Areas of the zoo that are now difficult to get around - especially for the elderly, disabled and families with young children - will be redesigned to reduce the steep grades with gently sloped walkways. Although the zoo has worked hard over the past decade - privately raising $10 million to fund the most basic improvements - these efforts have been unable to keep pace with acutely needed repairs and renovations. In order to modernize aging exhibits and provide a quality education and family recreation experience, the zoo is seeking first-ever public funding (ballot question 2A) in the form of a one-twentieth of a cent sales tax (a penny on $20). This amounts to less than 60 cents a month for the average Colorado Springs household. The tax will end in 10 years, and in total will collect about $30 million. Question 2A takes great care to ensure responsible use of these improvement funds, with a community advisory committee overseeing their disbursement. If approved, question 2A will contribute to funding the zoo's master plan, which clearly and publicly identifies that the funds will improve the lives and habitats of the zoo's animals, create educational facilities that promote conservation and provide for a better visitor experience.

The zoo intends to aggressively increase its private fund-raising efforts to complete the plan. However, without public funding these improvements could take 30 years or more to accomplish. That is too long for the families of Colorado Springs to wait!

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is an integral asset to the community, adding to our quality of life and serving as an important partner in community programs. The zoo's dedication to educating our community's children is reflected in the fact that classes from 92 percent of all elementary schools in the Pikes Peak region visited the zoo on field trips last year.

And our zoo gives back to the community. In 1998, the zoo's economic impact on the community was more than $20 million. The nearly 450,000 tourists who visited the zoo last year added more than $750,000 to the community's tax coffers, and the zoo's economic impact created over 400 full-time equivalent jobs in the city. It is for these reasons that there is wide non-partisan support for zoo improvements, as indicated by the nearly 22,000 petition signatures that were gathered in support of question 2A.

As a community facility that benefits Colorado Springs educationally, recreationally and economically, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo must have public support to rebuild its aging animal exhibits, expand its vital educational and conservation role, and improve the overall visitor experience.

Vote yes on 2A for your zoo.

- Young is chairman of Citizens to Build a Better Zoo.

Copyright 1999
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